Director of Technical Operations

ZipRecruiter • San Clemente, CA

375d

About The Position

This position is responsible for overseeing technical operations related to relationships and engineering oversight at contract manufacturers and suppliers, while also supporting product development. The role involves managing manufacturing operations at multiple facilities, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance with engineering standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong manufacturing, communication, and problem-solving skills, and will be required to travel to various facilities as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering required, preferably in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering or Food Science.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years leading a technical operation and/or professional team in the food industry, preferably in frozen and refrigerated foods.
• 5+ years in large capital project management.
• 8+ years in operations and/or production R&D in the food industry.
• Strong financial acumen and knowledge in process design standards, prototype, and product development.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop strategies for engineering standards for capital projects.
• Deploy engineering projects to manufacturers and work closely with them on equipment installation and knowledge transfer.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards and collaborate with manufacturers to maintain these standards.
• Facilitate initial startup procedures with new co-manufacturers by conducting audits and reviewing facility capabilities.
• Conduct co-man audits for efficiency improvements and partner with quality and compliance teams.
• Search and source new contract manufacturers to meet business needs and support new product launches.
• Manage new product development launches at co-manufacturing facilities in partnership with the R&D innovation team.
• Collaborate with procurement, production planning, and logistics groups.
• Conduct research on new technologies to support business goals.
• Drive engineering pilot testing activities and plant trials for new product rollouts and optimizations.
• Provide corporate support during large transformational projects and facilitate startup procedures with co-manufacturers.
• Develop Centers of Excellence in key manufacturing technologies.
• Work with senior leaders to identify and address strategic business opportunities and asset investments.
• Synthesize complex strategic problems into actionable plans and ensure successful execution.
• Develop business cases, technical solutions, and implementation plans for strategic programs.
• Accountable for driving results and ensuring successful execution of strategies to advance business outcomes.
• Identify and define business questions and develop analytical frameworks for analysis.
• Lead the multiyear supply chain technical transformation strategies.
• Evaluate and prioritize capital projects using strong business case/ROI discipline.
• Implement project management best practices for on-time and on-budget delivery of engineering initiatives.
• Communicate risks and opportunities, providing mitigation options and recommendations.
• Explore and implement operational and manufacturing technology solutions to support growth and operational excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement projects through engineering and technical solutions.
• Foster a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous learning.

Benefits

• Generous benefits package
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Half-day Fridays
• Hybrid work model based out of San Clemente office

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree